Apparatus for packaging articles



Jan; 29, 1963 E. w. SWEZEY ETAL 3,075,329

APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING ARTICLES 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 16, 1959 W.Sweze m m w.

Edwin DMZ/wan F Wilt Jan. 29, 1963 E. w. SWEZEY EI'AL 3,

APPARATUS FGR PACKAGING ARTICLES Filed Nov. 16, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 E.w. SWEZEY ETI'AL 3,075,329

APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING ARTICLES 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VEN TORS MTCW EXY/Jan. 29, 1963 led Nov. 16, 19 59 III Jan. 1963 E. w. SWEZEY EIAL 3,

APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING ARTICLES 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 16, 1959 2s ST WN w HA m y f d W M 0 m M W /QW\ United States Patent 3,075,329APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING ARTICLES Edwin W. Swezey, Hackensack, andDillman F. Wilkins,

Westwood, N.J., assignors, by mesne assignments, to

Union Bag-Camp Paper Corporation, New York, N.Y.,

a corporation of Virginia Filed Nov. 16, 1959, Ser. No. 853,096 19Claims. (Cl. 53-484) This invention relates to the packaging art, andmore particularly to the packaging of relatively small articles,utilizing as at least part of the package a stretchable and shrinkableplastic sheet of membrane arranged to conform more or less to thecontour of the article.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved automaticapparatus for packaging articles using packaging materials having atleast in part plastic sheeting, as for purposes of display and the like,which apparatus is extremely efficient and effective in operation, andreliable at all times in carrying out the desired packaging procedure.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus ormachine in accordance with the foregoing, which is capable of arelatively high production rate, thereby to effect a saving in the timerequired to package the articles or goods. I

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved and novelpackaging machine as characterized,

wherein there is required a minimum amount of hand labor, in carryingout the packaging operation.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a packaging machineas above outlined, which does not require especially costly or intricatecomponents or assemblies but instead may be economically fabricated fromreadily available materials.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an automatic packagingmachine as above set forth, wherein.

the various operating assemblages are readily accessible for adjustment,servicing and the like.

A still further'object of the invention is to provide an improvedpackaging apparatus which is arranged to enclose an article behind aplastic membrane or the like in accordance with the foregoing whichapparatus requires a minimum amount of servicing and maintenance.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an effective andreliable packaging machine as characterized, which is of relativelysimple in its construction and is economical to fabricate and produce.

A further object of the invention is to provide a'simple and effectivemethod for packaging or enclosing small goods or articles in a wrapperor cover which includes plastic sheeting in its make-up, for the purposeof providing a more effective display of the merchandise.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

Inthe drawings accompanying this specification, similar characters ofreference have been used to designate like components throughout theseveral views, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the improved packaging machine orapparatus as provided by the invention, drawn on a reduced scale.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary elevational view of the left end portion of themachine shown in FIG. 1, drawn on a larger scale which, however, isstill appreciably reduced in size as compared with the actual physicaldimensions.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary vertical or elevational view, looking in thedirection of the arrows 33 of FIG. 2.

' FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view partly in side elevation and partly invertical section, of the membrane-forming or shaping portion of themachine.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing a portion of theforming or shaping station of FIG. 4 on 3,075,329 Patented Jan. 29, 1963a slightly larger scale, with the membrane-forming punch illustrated inits operative position.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view partly in elevation and partly intransverse section, taken on the line 66 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line 77 ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary top plan view showing a portion of the apparatusat which the folding station is located.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line 9-9 ofFIG. 8

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the. right end portionof the machine as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary transverse vertical sectional view, taken onthe line 11-11 of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on the line1212 of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a prepared packaging component asutilized with the machine and method of the invention.

FIG. 14 is a transverse sectional view, taken on the line I l-14 of FIG.13.

tion.

FIG. 16 is a transverse sectional view, without the article taken on theline 1616 of FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the obverse or rear side of thepackaging component having the formed membrane and article containedtherein, the said component being folded in half.

FIG. 18 is a transverse sectional view, taken on the line 1818 of FIG.17.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the package and article shown in FIGS.17 and 18 but showing the front side thereof.

Referring first to FIGS.'1 and 2, the packaging appara-i tus as providedby the invention includes a plurality of sequentially disposedoperation-performing stations or as-:

semblages arranged along the upper side of an endless conveyor orcarrier belt, the latter being indicated generally by the numeral 20.Starting at the leftmost end of. the conveyor means, considering FIG. 1,there is locateda feeding station 22 to which point packaging componentsare brought, the said components being fed one at a time to carrierelements or holders 24 which are secured to. the belt 20. The holders 24are also illustrated in FIGS.

2, 5, 7, 8 and 9.

One such packaging component, of the type which is supplied in quantityto the feeding station 22 and deposited one at a time on the holders 24,is illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14. This component is indicated by the.

numeral 26, and comprises a sheet-like foldable portion:

27 having a diagonally extending opening 28 and having, secured to oneside, a plastic sheet member 29 which has a portion 30 spanning theopening 28 and constituting; in effect a membrane which is stretchedacross the said:

, opening. The plastic sheet 29 is of the type which may.

be readily stretched, especially when it is heated, and; which may bealso heat shrunk. I

One type of material which is suitable for forming the plastic sheets 29is known commercially as polyvinyl chloride.

dividually on the holders are brought to successive operation-performingstations by the holders 24- as the upper horizontal portion of theendless belt or carrier 21 is made to travel from left to right. Theholders 24 and packaging components are first brought to a heatingstation 32, then to a forming station 34, then an article loadingstation 36 which may be located at an accessible portion of the carrier21) disposed just beyond or to the right of the forming station 34.Thereafter the holders and packaging components are brought to a foldingstation 38, then to a creasing station 40, after which they pass to afastening station 42 and finally to a shrinking station 44, which latteris disposed at the right end of the carrier 20 as viewed in FIG. 1.

' The travelling movement of the holders 24 and components 26 iseffected by securing the holders to struts %6 attached to endless chains48 which pass over end sprockets 50 and 51 to a conveyor-like structureindicated generally by the numeral 52, the said structure beingsupported on a floor surface 53 by means of suitable legs 54-. Thechains 48 and struts 46 may be considered as constituting the endlessconveyor or carrier 20 indicated in FIG. 1.

Additionally, in accordance with the present invention, the conveyor orcarrier 29 comprises a central flexible endless belt portion 56 whichmay be secured to the transverse struts 46' on which the holders 26 aremounted. The flexible belt 56 provides an important function, inaccordance with the invention, as will be later brought out in detail inconnection with the forming or shaping ofthe membrane portion 31 of thepackaging component. The belt 56 may be rubber or rubber-like materialor the equivalent, and may pass around suitable end pulleys or drums(not shown for clarity of illustration) which are carried on the sameshafts as the sprockets 511 and are disposed between the sprockets ofthe end pairs.

A power drive for the carrier 29 is provided, being indicated ascomprising an electric motor 53 and gear reduction mechanism supplyingpower to a belt drive 69.

Considering FIGS. 1-3, the packaging-component feeding station 22 mayhave a table surface 62 on which the packaging components 63 aredisposed in sloping, coengaging positions. Secured to the table surface62 is a stepped platform 65 having upper and lower supporting portions66 and 67 respectively. Leaf spring peelers 69 and 70, are associatedrespectively with the supporting portions 66 and 67, for engagement withthe packaging components 26 to efiect a positioning of the latter on theportions 66, 67 and also to strip the components from suction-cup typelifters 72, 73 respectively which are carried by piston-and-cylinderassemblages 75, 76 mounted on spindles 78, 79. The assemblages 75, 76are linked for simultaneous movement by a bell crank and linkage systemshown in dotted outline and indicated generally by the numeral 81 Thelinkage system 80 is operated by a transmission rod 82 pivotallyconnected to a cam follower lever 83 which is reciprocated by a cam 84on a shaft 85 powered from the endless carrier 21? through the medium ofa chain and sprocket drive indicated generally by the numeral 87.

It will be understood that the feeding station operates to deliver thecomponents 26 one at a time to the supporting portion 67 of the platform65, whereby the components may be picked up by the holders 24 as thelatter are travelled in response to the movement of the carrier 20. Theholders 24 have angle-shaped picking members 89 which engage cornerportions of the components 26 as the holders travel from left to right,see FIG. 2. As each holder 24 leaves the feeding station 22 it isprovided with one of the packaging components 26. Each such holder andits packaging component then proceeds to and passes by the heatingstation 32, where there is mounted a radiant-type electric heater 91which effects a heating of the plastic sheet portion 29 and membraneportion 30 of the packaging component. Thereafter, the

holders 24 and components 26' carried thereby are brought to and pastthe forming station 34. At this station, see FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, there isprovided a forming tool 93 which is carried by a vertically reciprocablemultipart slide structure comprising a punch holder in the form of abase plate 95 carrying upstanding rods 96 which pass through a guideplate 97 constituting a carriage, said plate having axles 9 9 mountingWheels 100 which ride in stationary tracks 1tl2 secured to a frameportion 103 of the machine. The forming tool slide further hasassociated with it an actuating mechanism to effect verticalreciprocation of the tool 93, said mechanism comprising a cylinder andpiston assemblage 1&5 having a piston rod or plunger-196 joined to adriver plate 108 at the underside of which the forming tool 93 ismounted by means of studs 11%. Coil springs 112 normally hold thedriving plate 193 in a raised position, said plate being lowered by thecylinder and piston assemblage which effects a compression of thesprings 112 all as illustrated in FIG. 5. It will be understood that thebase plate 95 has a suitable opening to permit the forming tool 93 topass through the plate and to have vertical movement with respectthereto, as may be observed from an inspection of FIGS. 4, 5 and 6.

The carriage comprising the drive plate 97, axle 99 and wheels 1% isnormally held in an initial, left-most position as shown in FIG. 4 bysuitable coil springs 114 anchored to the frame portion 103 or tracks102 and connected with studs 116 extending upward from the carriage.

Actuation of the forming tool 93 is initiated by the presence of aholder 24 at the forming station 34. The holders 24 haveswitch-actuating rollers 118 arranged to engage and close an electricswitch which is connected to a solenoid-valve control 121 for thecylinder and piston assemblage 1115. Upon a holder 24 arriving at theforming station 34 the actuation of the switch will cause operation ofthe cylinder and piston assemblage 105, thereby effecting a descent ofthe forming tool 93 to cause'the same to engage and shape the membranepor- 3;) of the packaging component 26, as illustrated in To effect aprecise positioning of the forming tool 93 during its functioning, thebase plate 95 is provided with positioning rollers 123 arranged toengage the forward and rear surfaces of the holders 24. The straddlingof the holders 24 by the wheels 123 as the base plate 95 descends occursprior to any appreciable engagement of the forming tool 93 with thepackaging component, by virtue of the multi-part construction of theslide carrier for the tool. As seen in FIGS. 4 and 6, the tool 93projects only a slight extent below the base plate 915, and theassemblage, of the plates 95, 97 and 108 descends with these relativepositions being held, until the holder 24 is fully engaged by the baseplate 95. Thereafter, continued movement of the driving plate 108 willcompress the springs 112 and project the forming tool 93 to a greaterextent below the base plate. Such continued movement of the tool 93causes the membrane 3ilto be formed into a pocket-like shape in a recess125 (see FIGS. 5-7 and 9) which is provided in each of the holders 24.By virtue of the preheating of the plastic sheet 29 and membrane portion30 thereof, the membrane portion may be readily stretched in response tothe descent of the forming tool 93.

In accordance with the present invention a vacuum or suction is providedat the underside of the membrane 38 to further aid and complete theforming of the same to the pocket-like shape. Referring to FIGS. 4 and6, a vacuum chamber 128 is provided under the belt 56, being connectedto a suitable source or means for exhausting air. The vacuum chamber 128has an elongate, centrally disposed opening or slit 130, and the belt 56is provided with openings 132 at the locations where the holders 24 arepositioned, The openings 132 in the belt 56 communicate with passages134 which in turn are connected with the recesses 125 in the holders 24,there-. by to enable the suction in the chamber 128 to be communicatedto the underside of the membrane .portion 30 of the plastic 29.

Thus, in addition to the forming of the membrane portion 30 by the tool93, the heated membrane portion is also vacuum formed as it continues totravel and traverse the forming station 34.

Upon completion of the membrane-forming operation and departure of theholders 24 and packaging components 26 from the forming station 34 anaccessible portion of the apparatus is traversed, which portionrepresents the loading station 36. At this point an operator may placethe articles which are to be packaged in the pockets constituted by theformed membrane portions 30 of the packaging components. Upon thesecomponents being thus loaded with the articles or goods, the holders 24and components 26 proceed to the folding station 38, FIGS. 1, 8 and 9.

The pocket-like shape of the formed membrane portion 39 is clearlyindicated in FIGS. 15, 16, 18 and 19 as well as in FIG. 8.

Referring to FIG. 7 it will be seen that each of theholders 24 isprovided with a groove 138 (FIGS. 7, 8 and 9) which is covered by aportion of the packaging com ponent 26 as illustrated in the leftportion of FIG. 8 The folding of the packaging component is effected bya folding rail 140 which is rigidly mounted on the ma chine frame,together with a pair of diagonally extending folding bars 142 and 144,also rigid on the machine frame. Considering FIG. 8, as a holder 24 andcomponent 26 approach the first folding bar 142 the leading portion orextremity 142a of the bar enters the slot 138 below the component 26.Immediately thereafter the component 26 passes under the leading end140a of the folding rail 140 and, as seen in FIG. 9, this rail maintainsthe upper half as viewed in FIG. 8 of the component 26 flat on theholder 24. Continued left to right movement of the holder 24 andcomponent 26 will effect a folding of the lower half (as seen in FIG. 8)of the component and which half is indicated at 26a in FIG. 9, so as tosuperpose the latter upon the said upper half. The first folding bar 142initiates the folding movement and the second folding bar 144 is soarranged as to complete the folding movement when the component 26leaves the first folding bar 142, as may be understood. Upon thepackaging components being thus folded, the articles 139 which have beenplaced in the pockets provided by the formed membranes 30 will becompletely enclosed on one side by the folded portions 26a and on othersides by the plastic membrane 30. The holders 24 and folded packagingcomponents 26 now come to the creasing station'40, wherein there isprovided a creasing roller 148 carried by a stationary arm 150 mountedon the machine frame. The roller 148 engages the fold of the component,and tightly creases the component at this location as the lattercontinues its travel from left-toright to the discharge end of theapparatus, considering FIG. 1. It will be noted that the plastic sheet29 is now folded onits'elf and disposed betwen the two folded portionsof the member 27 of the packaging component. The holder 24 and thecomponent 26 now approach the fastening station 42, where, in accordancewith the invention, a heatfastening operation is performed to secure thetwo folded halves of the component 26 together.

Referring to FIGS. through 12, at the fastening station 42 heated ironsor members 154 and 156 having the shape shown in FIG. 12 are provided,the said members being carried by a vertical slide structure comprisinga plate 158 having upstanding rods 160 passing through a guide plate 162which also constitutes a carriage, said carriage being movable alonghorizontal bars 1'64 by means of bearing sleeves 166. Acylinder-andpiston assemblage 168 is mounted on' the carriage plate 162,said assemblage having a plunger or piston rod 169 secured to the plate158 to effect reciprocative movement of the plate and the heated members154, 156. The heated members when engaged with a folded component 26also travel therewith, and to effect a return of the carriage there isprovided a second cylinder and piston assemblage 171 having a piston rod172 which is secured to the carriage plate 162.

The guide plate 158 has positioning rollers 174 similar to the rollers123 at the forming station 34. The rollers 174 engage the forward andrear surfaces of the holders 24, and accurately position the heatedmembers 154, 156 with respect to the folded component 26 at the timethat the members are made to descend and engage the said component.

An electrical switch 176 is actuated by the holders 24, said switchenergizing the solenoid control 178 which effects lowering of the slidestructure 158 and tools 154, 156. Engagement between the holder 24 andthe positioning rollers 174 causes the slide structure to travel fromleft to right with the holder, as permitted by the horizontal slide bars164. As the holder 24 continues to advance it engages another electricalswitch 180, which energizes solenoid valves 181 and 182, the valve 181effecting a raising of the slide structure 158 and heated members 154,156, and the valve 182 operating the cylin-' der and piston 171 to.return the carriage 162 to its initial or starting position as shown inFIG. 10; v

The application of the heated members 154, 156 to the folded component26 will cause the two folded portions of the plastic sheet 29 to adhereto each other, and the securement of these portions will be alongmarginal edges of the folded component, and also along the edges of theopening 28 therein, as may be understood from an inspection of theshapes in FIG. 12.

Upon the holders 24 and components 26 leaving the fastening station 42they proceed to the shrinking station 44, where equipment 184 isprovided to introduce a blast of heated air through the openings 132 ofthe belt and the channels 134 of the holders, the said heated airimpinging against the formezl membranes 30 and effecting a heatshrinking of the latter about the enclosed articles 139. Theintroduction of heated air in this manner may be effected by the use ofa chamber similar to the suction chamber 128 illustrated in FIGS. 4 and6, or else it may be effected merely by the provision of an orifice ornozzle arranged to direct an air blast at the openings 132 in the belt56 as the said openings approach and pass through theshrinking station44.

Referring to FIG. 10 a pair of rotary brushes 188 is provided at thedischarge end of'the apparatus, said brushes being driven by a suitablebelt drive 190 from a power source, and effecting a removal of thepackages from the holders 24 upon completion of the packagingoperations.

The machine or apparatus as provided by the invention and describedabove, and also the method of the invention is characterized by handlingof the packaging components with a continuous movement while the variousoperations are performed to effect the packaging of the objects orarticles. It will be seen from an inspection of FIG. l that from thetime that the packaging corri ponents 26 are placed on the holders 24 atthe left end of the machine until the components are stripped from theholders at the rightmost end, both the holders and the componentscarried thereby are in continuous motion. During such movement, thecomponents pass to and through the heating station 32, theformingstation 34, the loading. station 36, the folding station 38, thecreasing station 40, the fastening station 42 and finally the shrinkingstation 44. t

It may now be readily understood that the method as provided by theinvention embraces thesteps of placing the packaging components on theholders, and moving 7 the holders and components in a predetermined pathconsecutively to and past a plurality of operation performing stations.While the holders and components are caused to travel in thispredetermined path and are continually moving, the membranes of thecomponents are subjected to heat, and are then formed into the recessesofthe holders; thereafter articles are inserted in the formed membranes,the components are folded to enclose the articles and the two halves ofthe components are secured together. Finally, the formed membranes areshrunk about the articles to cause them to closely conform to thecontours thereof.

The method of the invention is thus seen to be relatively simple andconducive to the packaging of components at a high rate of production,since it embraces a continuous movement of the holders and components.Further, the apparatus has been found to be extremely efficient andeffective, and reliable in its. operation. It has a high productionrate, and requires a minimum of hand labor. Moreover, the constructionof the apparatus does not require costly or intricate specialcomponents, or fabrications. All portions of the apparatus are readilyaccessible, and the apparatus may be easily adjusted as required.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of the claims,and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for automatically packaging articles, comprising a holderarranged to receive and support a single, unitary foldable packagingcard component of the type having an opening in it and having astretchable and shrinkable plastic membrane spanning the said opening,said holder having a forming recess adapted to register with the saidopening; powered means for eifecting a continuous travel of the holderin a predetermined path past a plurality of operation-performingstations; automatic means for heating the membrane of the packagingcomponent as the holder moves past a heating station in said path;automatic forming means including a travelling punch for forming theheated membrane to a hollow shape as the holder moves past a formingstation in said path; folding means cooperating with the movemerit ofsaid holder and card component carried thereon for folding saidcomponent on itself while on the holder and without tilting the holder,thereby to enclose the hollow of the formed membrane as the holder movespast a folding station in said path; automatic means for securingtogether the folded portions of the folded component as the latter iscarried by the holder and as said holder moves past a fastening stationin said path; and automatic means for heating the formed membrane toheat-shrink it, as the holder moves past a shrinking station in saidpath. Y

2. The invention as defined in claim 1, in which the powered means foreffecting travel of the holder comprises an endless belt and causes ashifting of the holder in sublstantially a straight line over a portionof the said path of travel, along which portion the saidoperation-performing stations are disposed.

3. The invention as defined in claim 1, in which the automatic formingmeans includes means for effecting a vacuum at one side of the heatmembrane, to suck the membrane into the recess of the holder.

4. The invention as defined in claim 1, in which there is means mountingthe said punch for movement with the holder over a portion of the saidpredetermined path, and means for reciprocatively mounting the punch formovement toward and away from the holder respectively prior andsubsequent to travel of the punch with the holder.

5. The invention as defined in claim 4, in which there is means foreffecting a vacuum at one side of the membrane for at least a portion ofthe time that the membrane is engaged by the punch, thereby to suck themembrane into the recess of the holder.

6. The invention as defined in claim 4, in which the means mounting'thepunch for movement with the holder includes a spring biased carriage thespring of which effects automatic return of the carriageto a startingposition, and in which the means reciprocatively mounting the punchincludes a plunger on the carriage and power means for advancing andretracting the said plunger.

7. The invention as defined in claim 4, in which the means forreciprocatively mounting the punch includes a punch holder mounting thepunch, and in which there are cooperable means on the said holders, foreffecting a predetermined positioning of the punch with respect to theholder for the packaging component as the punch holder is advancedtoward the component holder, said positioning means comprising rollerscarried by one of said holders and engageable with the other of theholders.

8. The invention as defined in claim 1, in which there is means forcreasing the folded packaging component as the holder passes a'creasingstation prior to the holder reaching the said fastening station.

9. The invention as defined in claim 8, in which the creasing meanscomprises a roller and stationary mounting means for rotatably mountingthe roller at a point in the predetermined path of travel of the holder.

10. The invention as defined in claim 1, in which the means for securingtogether the folded portions of the packaging component includes meansfor applying heat and pressure to the same.

11. The invention as defined in claim 10, in which the means forapplying heat and pressure comprises a heated member arranged to extendalong peripheral portions of the folded component and along the edges ofthe said opening in the component.

12. The invention as defined in claim 11, in which the said heatedmember is reciprocatively mounted for movement toward and away from thesaid holder, and is mounted for traveling movement with the holder alonga portion of the said predetermined path, said member being advanced onthe holder and retracted from the holder respectively prior andsubsequent to travel with the holder.

13. The invention as defined in claim 12, in which there are poweredplungers for effecting the reciprocative movements of the heated member,and for effecting a return travelling movement of the heated memberafter it has travelled with the said holder.

14. The invention as defined in claim 1, in which the automatic meansfor heating the membrane comprises a radiant heater extending along thesaid predetermined path of travel of the holder.

15. The invention as defined in claim 1, in which the automatic meansfor heating the formed membrane comprises means for directing a blast ofheated air against the said membrane.

16. The invention as defined in claim 1, in which there is meanscomprising a rotary brush, engageable with the said holder at a pointbeyond the shrinking station, to remove the folded packaging component.

17. Apparatus for automatically packaging an article in an individualcard package of the type formed of a card blank having an openingtherein to define a window therein and having a stretchable andshrinkable plastic membrane spanning said opening comprising a pluralityof holders spaced from one another and each being arranged to receiveand support thereon a single unitary foldable card blank, each of saidholders having a forming recess therein adapted to register with theopening in the card blank carried thereon, means for effecting acontinuous travel of the holders in a predetermined path pass aplurality of operation-performing stations whereby each of said holdersand card blank carried thereby are progressively passed from one stationto the next, means for individually feeding an individual card blank toeach holder with the stretchable membrane face up, as each holder passesthrough the feeding station, automatic means for heating the membrane ofthe card blank as the respective holders pass the heating station,automatic forming means including a punch movable between inoperativeretracted position to operative protracted position for forming a pocketin said membrane by forcing the same into the recess in the respectiveholders, means for rendering said punch operative each time a holderpasses thereunder, and means for moving said punch with said holder inregister therewith over a portion of said predetermined path, means forreturning said punch to its initial position upon forming said pocket, aloading station for loading an article in said pocket formed in the cardblank, folding means cooperating with the movement of the holder andcard blank carried thereon for folding the card blank over onto itselfwith the card retained on its holder to encase the article therein,automatic means for securing together the folded over portion of thecard blank as the latter is carried by its holder through a fasteningstation, said securing means including a heater movable betweenoperative and inoperative positions, and means for moving said heaterwith the holder in the operative position thereof through apredetermined portion of said travel of said holder on which said heateris operating, means for returning said heater to its initial positionupon completion of the fastening operation, and means for heat shrinkingsaid membrane about the article encased in said card package as theholder carries the same through a shrinking station.

18. The invention as defined in claim 17 wherein said punch andfastening heater are rendered operative and inoperative independently ofone another.

19. Apparatus for automatically packaging articles comprising a holderarranged to receive and support therein a single unitary foldablepackaging card component of the type having an opening in it and havinga stretchable and shrinkable plastic membrane spanning said opening,said holder having a forming recess adapted to register with the saidopening; powered means for effecting repetitive travel of the holder ina predetermined path past a plurality of operation-performing stationsseriatim; automatic means for heating the membrane of the packaging cardcomponent as the holder moves past a heating station in said path;automatic forming means including a movable punch for forming the heatedmembrane to a hollow shape as the holder moves through a forming stationin said path; folding means cooperating with the moving holder and cardcomponent carried thereby for folding said component on itself while onthe holder and without tilting the holder to enclose the hollow of theformed membrane as the holder moves past a folding station in said path;automatic means for securing together the folded portions of the foldedcomponent as the latter is carried by the holder and as said holdermoves past a fastening station in said path; and automatic means forheating the formed membrane to heat-shrink it as the holder moves past ashrinking station in said path.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,091,568 Garfield Mar. 31, 1914 1,960,959 Sague May 29, 1934 2,210,509Strauch Aug. 6, 1940 2,242,304 Johnson May 20, 1941 2,298,363 Ganz Oct.13, 1942 2,491,424 Stalter Dec. 13, 1949 2,497,212 Donofrio Feb. 14,1950 2,513,852 Donofrio July 4, 1950 2,577,249 Jenett Dec. 4, 19512,649,392 Marshall Aug. 18, 1953 2,697,901 Hosack Dec. 28, 19542,698,046 Finke Dec. 28, 1954 2,896,387 Brock July 28, 1959 2,904,943Dreyfus et a1. Sept. 22, 1959 2,934,867 Vogt May 3, 1960 2,970,414Rohdin Feb. 7, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 141,419 Australia June 4, 1951576,857 Canada June 2, 1959

1. APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY PACKAGING ARTICLES COMPRISING A HOLDERARRANGED TO RECEIVE AND SUPPORT A SINGLE, UNITARY FOLDABLE PACKAGINGCARD COMPONENT OF THE TYPE HAVING AN OPENING IN IT AND HAVING ASTRETCHABLE AND SHRINKABLE PLASTIC MEMBRANE SPANNING THE SAID OPENING,SAID HOLDER HAVING A FORMING RECESS ADAPTED TO REGISTER WITH THE SAIDOPENING, POWERED MEANS FOR EFFECTING A CONTINUOUS TRAVEL OF THE HOLDERIN A PREDETERMINED PATH PAST A PLURALITY OF OPERATION-PERFORMINGSTATIONS, AUTOMATIC MEANS FOR HEATING THE MEMBRANE OF THE PACKAGINGCOMPONENT AS THE HOLDER MOVES PAST A HEATING STATION IN SAID PATH,AUTOMATIC FORMING MEANS INCLUDING A TRAVELLING PUNCH FOR FORMING THEHEATED MEMBRANE TO A BELLOW SHAPE AS THE HOLDER MOVES PAST A FORMINGSTATION IN SAID PATH, FOLDING MEANS COOPERATING WITH THE MOVEMENT OFSAID HOLDER AND CARD COMPONENT CARRIED THEREON FOR FOLDING SAIDCOMPONENT ON ITSELF WHILE ON THE HOLDER AND WITHOUT TILTING THE HOLDER,THEREBY TO ENCLOSE THE HOLLOW OF THE FORMED MEMBRANE AS THE HOLDER MOVESPAST A FOLDING STATION IN SAID PATH, AUTOMATIC MEANS FOR SECURINGTOGETHER THE FOLDED PORTIONS OF THE FOLDED COMPONENT AS THE LATTER ISCARRIED BY THE HOLDER AND AS SAID HOLDER MOVES PAST A FASTENING STATIONAUTOMATIC MEANS FOR HEATING THE FORMED MEMBRANE TO HEAT-SHRINK IT, TIONIN SAID PATH.